A fire rages out of control in a town called Graceville. From within the engulfed building, a voice is heard: "Lord, help me! Please, God!" The cry is from Bella Hope, an orphan who is destined to become a powerful missionary - if she can survive!

Her prospects look grim, as the flames force firefighters to retreat. But then, suddenly, out of the blue, her prayers are answered: A caped superhero with a cross emblazoned on his chest busts his way into the building, scoops up Bella and leaps safely from the burning wreck.

Thus begins the saga of Captain Salvation, the star of a new Christian comic book created by a one-time youth minister who now lives in Harrisburg, northeast of Charlotte....

Neil wrote:OK, I'll weigh in a bit more - I think these comics are just another example of the idea that Christianity needs to be made fun & entertaining in order to keep the interest of bored children warehoused by their parents in SS. I see this in youth ministries all the time - the idea seems to be, send in the clowns or little Johnny will walk out.Could you imagine Marxists making Communism "fun" in their Youth Leagues? I doubt it - they were in deadly earnest & at least *acted* like it was worth dying for, so why aren't Christians likewise? I have long suspected that there are way too many churches compared to the number of serious believers. And those of us who *are* serious can't seem to agree on very much, if this website is any indication."For it [the Law] is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life" - Deut. 32:47

Very, Very good point Neil. As a pastor of a small church, many of our members are tempted to follow what the big entertainment churches are doing. They would get people temporarily, but not disciples. Thanks for your post.

OK, I'll weigh in a bit more - I think these comics are just another example of the idea that Christianity needs to be made fun & entertaining in order to keep the interest of bored children warehoused by their parents in SS. I see this in youth ministries all the time - the idea seems to be, send in the clowns or little Johnny will walk out.

Could you imagine Marxists making Communism "fun" in their Youth Leagues? I doubt it - they were in deadly earnest & at least *acted* like it was worth dying for, so why aren't Christians likewise? I have long suspected that there are way too many churches compared to the number of serious believers. And those of us who *are* serious can't seem to agree on very much, if this website is any indication.

"For it [the Law] is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life" - Deut. 32:47

Neil wrote:I'll leave the more obvious complaints to others:"an orphan who is destined to become a powerful missionary"Not merely a godly housewife, mind you. This excerpt reminds me of commonplace, sub-Biblical vocational snobbery. "Protestants" today have joined Catholics in believing, contra 1 Cor. 12, that credentialed, professional (salaried) Christians are more submitted to God than mere laymen, who can do well only by nodding their heads & forking over the dough, no matter what moral or theological error the "Man of God" commits.

A man said this to me one time, "God qualifies the called, but rarely calls the qualified"

Not merely a godly housewife, mind you. This excerpt reminds me of commonplace, sub-Biblical vocational snobbery. "Protestants" today have joined Catholics in believing, contra 1 Cor. 12, that credentialed, professional (salaried) Christians are more submitted to God than mere laymen, who can do well only by nodding their heads & forking over the dough, no matter what moral or theological error the "Man of God" commits.

Frank wrote:Thanks for the comment and I agree fully with it. They are trying to call upon or follow a Christ they have simply reinvented. Jesus represents some type of vaccine they think they can inject when needed. No, He is Lord and Savior! Thanks!

Amen, both of you. This is what happens when Jesus isn't compelling and cool enough. I guess Jesus needs a sidekick and a cape...how about a secret identity? Yeesh!

Allbygrace wrote:This is really sad to me and it breaks my heart... Kids don't need another super hero who will make them feel good about themselves, they need a Savior, and they need to aspire to be conformed to the real savior who is Holy amd righteous and who came into this world and died to save because of their to know why that Savior had to live the perfect life they can't live and why he had to die on a cross. Kids need fathers who will teach them the Proverbs and raise them up in the way they should go. They don't need some comic book hero who will minipulate them to pray a prayer and "Activate" their salvation.

Thanks for the comment and I agree fully with it. They are trying to call upon or follow a Christ they have simply reinvented. Jesus represents some type of vaccine they think they can inject when needed. No, He is Lord and Savior! Thanks!

This is really sad to me and it breaks my heart... Kids don't need another super hero who will make them feel good about themselves, they need a Savior, and they need to aspire to be conformed to the real savior who is Holy amd righteous and who came into this world and died to save because of their to know why that Savior had to live the perfect life they can't live and why he had to die on a cross. Kids need fathers who will teach them the Proverbs and raise them up in the way they should go. They don't need some comic book hero who will minipulate them to pray a prayer and "Activate" their salvation.